The Raiders' Darren McFadden fights off Chiefs safety Jon McGraw for a big gain in the second half in Oakland on Sunday.

The Raiders' Darren McFadden fights off Chiefs safety Jon McGraw for a big gain in the second half in Oakland on Sunday.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

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PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 14: Danny Woodhead #39 of the New England Patriots jumps over James Farrior #51 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the game on November 14, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 14: Danny Woodhead #39 of the New England Patriots jumps over James Farrior #51 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the game on November 14, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Photo: Jared Wickerham, Getty Images

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Raiders, Steeelers ready to get physical

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Tom Cable grew up watching the Raiders and Steelers play in big games, and today the coach gets to see up close what it feels like.

He takes his Oakland team into Heinz Field on a gray, cloudy day for some hand-to-hand combat on the line of scrimmage in a game that will probably look more like a throwback than the high-scoring games around the rest of the league.

"This is awesome," Cable said. "This is what we've earned, the right to be in games like this now, so that's the way we approach it."

The Raiders (5-4) have won three games in a row and are tied for first place in the AFC West. The Steelers, still smarting over a home loss to Oakland last year, are 6-3.

It feels like the '70s all over again.

What does Cable remember about those ol' Raiders-Steelers battles?

"Just how physical they were," he said. "The thing that you remember about those teams playing is, they just beat the tar out of each other. There's no other way to look at it.

"Both teams were really good on the line of scrimmage, both teams had good receivers and good running backs. You just remember somebody would make a play, but the rest of the game just seemed like an old-fashioned street fight, and that's what you remember."

The Raiders pride themselves on being a physical team this season, and how they do today will depend a lot on that. Their defensive line, led by Richard Seymour and Tommy Kelly, must take advantage of a beat-up Steelers offensive line, and the Raiders' offensive line and running backs must do the seemingly impossible: run on Pittsburgh's defense.

The Steelers rank first in the league by allowing 63.2 yards per game and were the first team in NFL history to hold its opponents to 75 or fewer rushing yards in each other their first eight games of the season (New England had 103 last week). Pittsburgh has allowed only one 100-yard rusher in the past 43 games, Baltimore's Ray Rice (141) in Week 16 of 2009.

"They've got a scheme that they all understand," Cable said. "They've been playing it for a lot of years, and then you've got really good players. But there are some things I think we understand about them that hopefully will help us."

The Raiders, make no mistake about it, are going to try to run the football. Behind running back Darren McFadden (757 yards), they have the second-best running attack in the NFL (162.2 yards per game).

"I feel like one of the main things going for us right now is that a lot of guys are playing with confidence," McFadden said. "We believe we can run and pass against anybody."

Long rope: Bruce Gradkowski, who led the Raiders to three touchdowns in the fourth quarter in last year's 27-24 win over the Steelers, is healthy again after a shoulder injury. But that doesn't mean Cable will have a shorter rope with starting quarterback Jason Campbell today.

"No, I really don't" think that, Cable said. "To make the decision like I did with the fact that we've had the success that we've had lately, (Campbell's) earned that. And I think when someone earns something, they deserve to go out there and give it everything they've got.

"And if things don't go right or whatever happens, we have an answer to go to."

Raiders today

10 a.m. Channel: 5 Channel: 13 Channel: 46 (1550, 105.3)

Spotlight on: Raiders running back Darren McFadden and fullback Marcel Reece. Oakland will try to run against the Steelers, but short passes might be the best bet.